Java sparrow
Java sparrow | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Estrildidae |
Genus: | Lonchura |
Species: | L. oryzivora
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Binomial name | |
Lonchura oryzivora | |
Synonyms | |
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The Java sparrow (Lonchura oryzivora), also known as Java finch, Java rice sparrow or Java rice bird, is a small
, and has been introduced into many other countries.Taxonomy
The Java sparrow was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Loxia oryzivora.[4] The specific epithet combines Latin oryza meaning "rice" with -vorus meaning "eating".[5] Linnaeus based his description on the "Padda or Rice-bird" that had been described and illustrated in 1743 by the English naturalist George Edwards in his A Natural History of Uncommon Birds. Edwards believed that his specimens had come from China but mentions the common name "Java sparrow".[6] The species was reclassified to the genus Lonchura in 2020.[7]
Description
The Java sparrow is about 15 to 17 cm (5.9 to 6.7 in) in length from the beak to its tip of tail feathers. Although only about the size of a house sparrow, it may be the largest species in the estrildid family. The mean body mass is 24.5 g (0.86 oz), making it slightly heavier than its nearest known rival, the black-bellied seedeater.[8] The adult is unmistakable, with its grey upperparts and breast, pink belly, white-cheeked black head, red eye-ring, pink feet and thick red bill.
Both sexes are similar. Immature birds have brown upperparts and pale brown underparts, and a plain head. Very young birds have a black beak with a pink base.
The call is a chip, and the song is a rapid series of call notes chipchipchipchipchipchip.
Habitat
The Java sparrow is a very gregarious bird which feeds mainly on grain and other seeds. It frequents open
are laid.Aviculture
The Java sparrow has been a popular cage bird in Asia for centuries, first in China's
In Asia the Java sparrow is most often raised almost from birth by human breeders and owners, and they become very tame and attached to humans. As such, they can be normally kept in relatively small cages, but let out for indoor exercise without their attempting to escape. In captivity, a variety of colourations have been bred, including white, silver/opal, fawn/isabel, pastel, cream and agate (which currently is rare within Europe captive specimens) along with the pied Java sparrow (called the sakura buncho in Japan).
Introductions
The Java sparrow was introduced in the Indian subcontinent,[9] but it failed to become a successful resident on the Indian mainland.[10] In the United States there are breeding populations on several of the Hawaiian Islands, especially Oahu.
In the Caribbean, the Java sparrow was introduced to Puerto Rico where it is fairly common near San Juan. It has also been sighted in Jamaica, but is not known to occur on any of the other islands.[11] It was also introduced to Christmas Island, off the coast of Western Australia.
Threats
The Java sparrow is considered by some countries to be an agricultural pest with respect to rice cultivation. An ongoing loss of natural habitat, hunting in some areas and trapping (as a pest) in others has led to much smaller numbers in the wild and sightings in its natural range have become increasingly uncommon. The Java sparrow is now evaluated as
References
- . Retrieved 8 May 2022.
- ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
- ^ Java Sparrow – Padda oryzivora (may change to Lonchura oryzivora). eFinch.com
- ^ Linnaeus, Carl (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis (in Latin). Vol. 1 (10th ed.). Holmiae (Stockholm): Laurentii Salvii. p. 173.
- ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
- ^ Edwards, George (1743). A Natural History of Uncommon Birds. Vol. Part I. London: Printed for the author at the College of Physicians. pp. 41, 42, Plates 41, 42.
- PMID 32028027.
- ISBN 978-1-4200-6444-5.
- ^ Hume, Allan Octavian. The Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds, Volume II. R. H. Porter, 1890, p. 128
- ^ "Ceylon Bird Club Rarities and Records Committee : Appendix II" (PDF). Ceylonbirdclub.org. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ISBN 978-1-4008-3618-5.
- ^ "Red List: Northern Bald Ibis, Pink Pigeon making a comeback". Birdlife.org. Retrieved 2018-11-23.
- ^ "Asian Songbirds - Species we work with at TRAFFIC". Traffic.org. Retrieved 2019-01-10.
- Finches and Sparrows by Clement, Harris and Davis, ISBN 0-7136-8017-2
External links
- Species factsheet - BirdLife International
- Java Colours Archived 2013-02-12 at the Wayback Machine - about the colours of the Java sparrow
- Feathers of the Java sparrow - Ornithos – Birdwatching in Europe